Im looking into hunting Washington state next year for bear or maybe something else, hows the public land out there?

there is plenty of public land that has bear on it try the link below it has the state areas in just one county!!!

http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_ar...erby=wla%20ASC

deer elk bear, U name it's there....oops sorry it is the link for the south central region, the first 4 are in Kittitas county!!

Thanks finnbear, are these places crowded?

At certain times and places..the clockum can get to be a zoo because of all the seattle hunters or 206's as we refer to them!!! some as well as a few locals seem to loose they brains during elk season!!! I personally hunt in a area about 1 1/2 X 1 1/2 mile sq and seem to have good successfor both elk and nice mulies!!! BUT I don't hunt the clockum!!! I really don't like seeing the kind of hunting that goes on over there!!!

For what seasons/species do they sell over the counter tags?

all most everything is over the counter..there are draw hunts but U can get deer and elk tags OTC...mostly for spike bulls and 3 pt or better on deer (mulies) deer season is from late sept to nov and dec mixed permit hunts and open seasons ...elk is anywhere from sept to jan mixed hunts..with the general bull season in late oct!look for the hunts to be posted in may..but don't waste any time if U want to get in on the permit draws!!....but if your a meat hunter there are plenty of spikes running around in the general season..I personally hunt for meat... as nobody has yet given me a decent recipe for them big horns LOL!!!!!!

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regs_seasons.html

I agree with you on eatin horns, an elk or bear of any size would be a trophy to a florida boy thats never been west of alabama.

The pic is of my last trophy got him on public land (lt murray) in oct 2009 about 500yds from camp....very tasty!!! number 14 for me!!! all in the same area most out of one canyon!! sage brush! never shot an elk in the timber or above 4000ft!!!! there are many oppertunities for meat anilmals in wash st!! with OTC kinda spendy though......